Lawyers from Canada, Mexico and the United States will come together Aug. 5 in Denver to discuss shared concerns about the environment, immigration, labor and employment during the third American Bar Association Summit of the Americas.
In previous summits, lawyers from the three countries worked on a framework for addressing issues that cross national borders. This year, the summit – part of the ABA Annual Meeting – will feature three programs throughout the day, plus a lunch with keynote speaker Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel, MALDEF
In addition, presidents of the ABA and the Canadian Bar Association, plus the president-elect of the Mexican Bar Association, will address the summit.
The summit is sponsored by the ABA Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights & Responsibilities. Each program will feature a panel of experts on a different topic:
- Environment (9:45 a.m.) – Exploring Cross-Border Environmental Legal Issues in the United States, Mexico and Canada
Experts from the three countries will discuss important climate actions taken by their nations, take stock of their effectiveness and anticipate future actions. The conversation will include legal topics related to energy, transportation, infrastructure, private sector investment, green jobs, indigenous rights and environmental justice.
Moderator: Ignacia Moreno – Chief executive officer with The iMoreno Group PLC in Washington, D.C.
Panelists:
Mariana Herrero – Partner with Galicia in Mexico City
Jonathan Kahn – Partner with Blake, Cassels & Graydon in Toronto
Fred Pfaeffle – Senior counsel with the U.S. Department of Energy
Jeff Prieto – General counsel with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Carlos Evans – Director of the Office of Environmental Quality & Sustainability with the City of Dallas
- Labor and Employment (12:30 p.m.) – A Survey of Labor and Employment Laws Across North America
Panelists will survey labor and employment laws and practical approaches for effectively managing human capital across North America, examining the legal intersections and distinctions among the laws of the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Moderator: José Jara – Counsel with Fox Rothschild LLP in Morristown, New Jersey
Panelists:
Rafael Vallejo – Partner with Von Wobeser y Sierra in Mexico City
Marian Zapata-Rossa – Partner with Snell & Wilmer LLP in Phoenix
Rose Massicotte – Senior associate with Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in Montreal
- Immigration (2:15 p.m.) – The Response to the Displacement of Peoples in the United States, Mexico and Canada: A Look into Immigration and Asylum in North America
In 2022, 108 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced by persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and other events. The United States, Mexico and Canada have taken different approaches to dealing with displaced people. Panelists will discuss their country's laws and policies.
Moderator: Rodolfo S. Monterrosa Jr. – Founding attorney with Monterrosa Law Group LLC in South Bend, Indiana
Panelists:
Rodrigo Garcia – Senior business immigration manager with Fragoman in Mexico City
Sergio R. Karas – Immigration lawyer with Karas Immigration Law in Toronto
Registration and check-in for the Summit of the Americas will begin at 8:30 a.m., with opening remarks at 9 a.m. Programs, each 90 minutes, will be held at 9:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. Lunch will be at 11:30 a.m.
For more information on the ABA Annual Meeting in Denver and to register, visit the website here.